What's Your Browser?

[humbert]

@topdog
What I normally do is run Ccleaner and BleachBit after the day is done, and that pretty much takes care of all browser caches, history, cookies, etc. Keeping the system clean has resulted in very few problems for me. Naturally, if there's stuff you'd prefer to keep (such as some cookies or maybe history), Ccleaner and BleachBit can be configured accordingly. Naturally, I'm a strong believer in the concept that there's always a better way or the fact that I might not be doing what's best.

For those of you guys running any Chromium based browser other than Google Chrome, how configurable are they? For starters, is it possible for links to open in the same tab or to adjust the cache to your liking without having to do an about:config?

[Ahmad]

@humbert.

I saw you mentioned that I can control Cache in Firefox. I see that it's adjusted to Automatic in Firefox settings. What does Automatic means? Does this mean it's unlimited or what?
Because I never want to delete any cache because of the slow internet.

I also understood that I can limit the Cache size to a specific size, but what I want to ask about is that Auto means unlimited? As I want it like that.

[humbert]

@humbert.
I saw you mentioned that I can control Cache in Firefox. I see that it's adjusted to Automatic in Firefox settings. What does Automatic means? Does this mean it's unlimited or what?
Because I never want to delete any cache because of the slow internet.
I also understood that I can limit the Cache size to a specific size, but what I want to ask about is that Auto means unlimited? As I want it like that.

Automatic simply means that Firefox decides how much cache is necessary and allocates space accordingly, maxing out at 1024 MB by default.  You can make it bigger or smaller as you so desire, which can't be done on Google Chrome. As I see it, not erasing cache makes perfect sense if you visit the same sites again and again so you won't have to keep re-downloading the same data. As I said once, Facebook games are a perfect example - lots of background game information and their servers are overloaded, not to even mention that your connection isn't the fastest there is.

[Daniil]

A picture about comparing the browsers. 

[topdog]

LOL good one  Daniil, I love it.

Especially the IE pic.

[humbert]

I have a question for those of you who prefer Google Chrome. My wife has it on her computer and there are a few annoyances I'm wondering if they're possible to disable. If getting rid of them is indeed possible, I haven't found a way.

1) Is there any way to get Chrome to reuse the same tab as opposed to constantly opening new tabs for every click?

2) Is there a way to make what Google calls the "Incongito mode" permanent as opposed to doing it individually per tab? To put the question another way, is there a setting as in Firefox where you can simply enable private browsing and keep it that way?

3) Is there a way to use this thing without having to open a Google account nor create a situation where they can keep meticulous records of everything you do on their servers? In my case I find it unimaginable for Google to have detailed records not only of all the pr0n sites I've been to, but what my tastes are.

As I see it, if these things are impossible to disable, there is no chance in hell I'll ever use Chrome.

[topdog]

@ Humbert
Every installation of Chrome has a  unique user ID number, so even if you don't open a  Google account, every thing you do can be tracked.
Use SWIron instead, it's almost identical except for lacking  the UUID number,  built in Flash player and PDF reader.
For both Chrome and Iron you can open a new  Incongito window in toolbox or Ctrl+Sh+N  then close the original window and all tabs will be private. But you need to do it at the start of each session as far as I know

Is there any way to get Chrome to reuse the same tab as opposed to constantly opening new tabs for every click?

Sorry I don't understand this bit. It doesn't happen for me, most links open in the same tab if I right click them ? (well left click in my case).

[humbert]

Hey Topdog! Hadn't seen you in quite a while! Is it warming up in New Zealand or what? 

Thanks for the tip on Chrome and Chromium based browsers in general. I suppose I just need to talk about this business of tabs on Google Chrome. I don't know why this is, but on my wife's copy of Chrome which she uses for her Facebook games, no matter what I do I can't get any link to open in the same tab. I've looked all over the settings and haven't seen anything about this. As far as I know there is no extension such as Firefox's Tab Mix Plus that will give you more ways to configure tab-related matters. I might add that by default Firefox does the same thing, but you can easily configure that to your tastes. I'm thinking this situation is native to Google Chrome and doesn't affect other Chromium browsers such as Iron.

Has anyone out there given Opera a hard look? I've yet to test it, but from what I'm seeing it's almost another Firefox - configurable and with every add-on imaginable. I think if I ever get my laptop up and running I could test it there. I do know that on my Android-based tablet I was shocked to learn that, while Firefox's Windows and Linux version are great,  their Android version is pure garbage! Then I decided to give Opera a try on my tablet and it's the best browser I've seen yet - at least under any platform involving smartphones or tablets.

[Daniil]

Well, if about a portable platform Opera, I can say a bit.
I am using a QTek S200 - an old and slow WinMob5 PDA/smartphone. (Well, maybe buy a modern Android tablet is the best solution, Android is a great OS... But old QTek is working, it has a HUGE accumulator and I now have a lack of money, so... I continue to use it.)

And on WinMob5 a default internet browser is a, damn, circumcised IE5! That is -  -> -> a-a-a-a-a-argh! -> -> -> ->
So, as fast as I can, I set up on PDA an Opera Mini for win mobile.
About it I can say that it's stable, easy to use (very like desktop one) but very slow (I'm waiting for loading it about a 40-50 seconds, but - QTek is really slow on 200 MHz...)

[humbert]

@Daniil - there is Opera for Windows as well as for Androids. I got the laptop back up and installed Opera. It's OK but, forget it - Firefox is better, at least on all PC versions.

Incidentally, when you mentioned WinMob5 as a circumcised IE5, I hope this is a positive comment. I'm saying this because everything I've read says many more women prefer circumcised guys to those that aren't - they say it's not just cleaner but far more beautiful. So -- those of you who live in northern Europe know what you've gotta do - those who live in the Middle East are OK.